Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-02-26
Still there was silence.

Then the gigantic figure slipped off the
karross and stood mp before lis, a truly
alarming spectacle Ii was that OF an enor-
nous man with the most entirely repalsiye
counteaance we had ever beheld. The lips
were as thick as q negroS, the nose was fiat
it had but one cleaning black eye tor tie
othir was represented b5 a hollow 70 sIle
Tace), an / Its Mole expression was elael
and sensual T. degree. From the large
head rose 4 magnificent plume Of white
ostrich feathers, the body was clad in shirt
OF shining chain armor, whilst round the
waist ana rIght knee was the usum garnish
of oX-tails lin the right hand WAS huge
spear Round the neck was a thick torQue
OF gold and bound on to the forehead was
single ana enormous uncut diamond.
Still there was silence; but not for long.
Presently tie figure, whom we rightly
guessed to lie the king, raised the great
spear il his hand. Instantly eight thousand
spears were raised i'll answer, and from eight
thousand throat5 rang out the royal salute OF
"k00m." Three times this was repeated,
and each time tile earth shook with the noise
that can only be compared to the deepest
notes Of thunder
BE humble, OIL people, pipad out
thin voice which seemed TO come from the
monkey in tie shade lit is the king
1T is the b.ng, doomed ont eight thou
sand tIroats in answer. BE humble, Oh,
people, 1t is the king"
Then there was silence again-dead
silence. Presently, however, it was broken
A soldier on our left dropped his shield,
which fell with clatter on the limestone
floor.
Twala turned his one cold eye in the
direction Of the noise.
"Come hlther, thou" no said, in voice
of thunder.
A fine young man stepped out fthe ranks,
and stood before him.
1T was thy shield that fell, thou awkward
dog. Wilt thou make me reproach in the
eyes Of strangers from the stars? What hast
thou to say?'
And then we saw the poor fellow turn
pale under his dusky skin.
1T was by chance, oh, calf of the black
COW" he murmured.
'Ihen it is a chance for which thou must
pay Thou hast made me foolish; prepare
for DEATH"
Il am the kings OK" was the low answer
"Scragga," roared the king, 'et me see
how thou canst use thy spear. Kill me this
awkward dog"
Scragga stepped forward with an ill-fay
ored grin, and lifted his spear. The poor
victim covered his eyes with his hand and
stood still. As for us we were petrited
with horror.
"Once, twice." he waved the spear and
then struck, all, God right home-the spear
stood out foot behind the soldiers back.
He flung up his hands and dropped dead.
From the multitude arose something like
murmur; it rolled round and round, and died
away The tragedy was finished; there lay
the corpse, and we had not yet realized that
it had been enacted Sir Henry sprung up
and swore great oath, then, overpowcred
by a sense of silence, sat down again.
"The thrust was good one" said the
king; take him away"
Four men stepped out of the ranks, and
lifting the body of the murdered man, car.
ried it away.
"Cover up the blood-stains, cover them
up" piped out the thin voice from the mon
key-like figure; "the kings word is spoken,
the kings doom is done"
Thereupon girl came forward from be-
hind the hut, bearing jar filled with pow
dered lime, which was scattered over the red
mark, blotting it from sight
Sir Henry meanwhile was boiling with
rage at what had happened; indeed, it was
with difficulty that we could keep him still.
''Sit down. for Heavens sakeP' / whis-
pered; our lives depend upon it,"
! He yielded and remained quiet.
1wala sat still until the traces of the